Hours & Directions

The Johnston House is open to visitors the third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed October, November and December, except for the Holiday House held the first two weekends of November.

Group tours can be arranged by calling 650-726-0329.

The Johnston House is located just south of the City of Half Moon Bay on the east side of Highway 1 at Higgins-Purisima Road. From Highway 101 or Interstate 280 take Highway 92 west to the coast and turn left on Main Street or Highway 1 to approximately 1 mile to Higgins-Purisima.

HIGHLIGHTING ALBERT BIERSTADT

Albert Bierstadt loved mountains. In 1857, the German-born artist joined a U. S. overland survey expedition travelling westward across the country. He made sketches and took countless photographs of dramatic rock formations and majestic mountain ranges, which he then translated onto canvasses in his New York studio. His paintings depicted these mountains full of dramatic detail and lighting. His paintings brought record paintings during his lifetime.

His work was largely forgotten after his death in 1902. However, in the 1960's, as more people became interested in preserving the national landscape, his paintings began to be shown again.

We are honored to have a print of his painting, "Valley of the Yosemite" (1864) in a reproduction frame hanging in the parlor of the Johnston House. The original of this work may be found in the Museum of Fine Art, Boston, MA.